gas leak from fuel filter 97 lesabre

My 97 Lesabre custom is leaking gas from the fuel filter, i hope... that is.
I smelled gas this past week in the garage, then i noticed a stain on my garage floor near the fuel filter.
I replaced the fuel filter about a year ago with one from auto zone. Cheap yea i know.
I want to get a better one that the cheap parts from Auto zone.
What brand name filter do you guys or ladies recommend.
The one from auto zone lasted just over a year.
Oh BTW, i checked the line from the gas tank to the filter... but when i checked the source of the leak im pretty sure its coming from the fuel filter.

Thanks in advance

I have had some gas leaks on my 97. The leaks have been where the gas line plastic clips attach. They do not seem to work real well and are prone to leak. Hope a new filter works for you.

i was going to replace the filter.....i replace the rubber tube lead to the gas line to the engine. Drove today , still leaking.
now i think after checking again that the leak is coming from either the gas tank near the fuel filter or the line from the gas tank to the filter.
I have a very strong smell of gas when i drive....worried a bit now, taking to shop to see what the problem is.
Fuel filter not the problem but the leak is near that area for sure.:banghead:

i was going to replace the filter.....i replace the rubber tube lead to the gas line to the engine. Drove today , still leaking.
now i think after checking again that the leak is coming from either the gas tank near the fuel filter or the line from the gas tank to the filter.
I have a very strong smell of gas when i drive....worried a bit now, taking to shop to see what the problem is.
Fuel filter not the problem but the leak is near that area for sure.:banghead:

Check the metal line coming out of the tank that goes to a plastic line which goes to the rear of the fuel filter. Mine was seeping. Run the fuel pump by priming it; turn the key to ON for a couple seconds. You'll hear the fuel pump stop. Then OFF and then turn back to ON. Do that several times to keep the pressure in the feed line high.

Then get back under the car to use something paper that will show wet fuel on the line if you can't see the drip. I put the back of my car up on ramps so I could crawl under and safely examine. I didn't like what I found. New fuel pump and fuel sender for the tank.

I have 2 '97 Lesabres and both have leaked at the fuel filter. For one, I ran a piece of fuel line rubber hose from the sending unit to the filter. That stopped it. For the other, I replaced the fuel filter and the new clip stopped the leak. They were both leaking between the filter and the tank. Fuel could be seen dripping on the ground under the filter.

One leaked fuel from the clip under the hood at where it meets the fuel rail. Those clips and plastic lines do not work real well.